From shadowy villains to bloodthirsty lovers, is the outlaw always queer?
LGBTQIA+ representation is historically lacking from the cinematic canon. We reassess the figure of the outsider in the films streaming on MUBI and show how the queer gaze can offer new readings on classic films.
WORDS BY MEGAN WALLACE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MUBI MUBI is a streaming service where you can find great, hand-picked films from across the world.
In the ongoing series Through the Lens, we’ll be engaging with cinematic representation and queer interpretation via the films streaming on MUBI. If you know your film history, you’ll be aware that explicit queer and trans representation is a relatively modern phenomenon in Hollywood.
Looking towards the archives, particularly in Hollywood’s golden era, there’s a dearth of queer storylines and characters. This is because of the Hays Code, a set of industry guidelines which first surfaced in 1934 and encouraged film studios to avoid themes that were considered taboo – same-sex desire being one such topic. Where are the queers in cinema history? The moralising of the Hays Code eventually crumbled, in no small part due to filmmakers pushing the limits of what could be shown on screen.
